Monday, June 11, 2012

Wow, Nigeria is in for it.. even I can't say for what exacly : ( I bet you've been following the bribery scandal involving Hon. Farouq Lawan's Ad-Hoc Committee on the House of Reps fuel subsidy probe, if you haven't, it's in your interest to follow this news/scandal.. Our sanity as a people may well depend on it. Peep the exerpt from Hon. Farouq Lawan's denial here --->

My attention has been drawn to several newspapers and
internet stories alleging that a prominent member of the House ad-hoc committee
on petroleum subsidy demanded and received the sum of $600,000 as bribe from an
oil marketer. I wish to categorically deny that I, or any member of the
committee, demanded and received any bribe from anybody in connection with the
fuel subsidy probe and I believe this is evident from the thorough an in-depth
manner the investigation was carried out and the all encompassing
recommendations produced there from as approved by the whole House.

Continue after the jump

The general public is hereby reminded that during and
after the investigations, we have severally raised alarm on pressures on us from
different quarters. In particular, I wish to refer to the front-page publication
in the Leadership Weekend newspaper of 28th April 2012, captioned 'Marketers
offered subsidy committee plane load of dollars', where we alerted the public
that a marketer promised to fly in a jet loaded with US dollars which he
intended to share to both the House Leadership and members of the ad-hoc
committee to influence the outcome of the report.

"This clarification is
necessary in order to clear all the insinuations being bandied about and, more
importantly, to enable the government concentrate on the implementation of the
report. The present mudslinging is not unexpected in view of the calibre of
people whose actions and inactions were found wanting in the report.

I am
aware that in their desperation to discredit the report and divert the attention
of the public from the real issues of large scale fraud in high places
established in our report, a video footage displaying a caricature of my person
allegedly having a dealing with a marketer reminiscent of the military era when
dignitaries were invited to the Presidential Villa to watch a video clip of a
phantom coup involving Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is already in
circulation.

I wish to assure all Nigerians that the sanctity of our
report remains unassailable and it will be in the best interest of the country
if the relevant authorities faithfully and conscientiously implement the
resolutions of the House."